Cartridge adaptor and a cartridge to be accommodated in the cartridge adaptor

ABSTRACT

A cartridge adaptor accommodates a second cartridge which is smaller than a first cartridge so as to allow the second cartridge to be mounted in a disk apparatus designed to receive the first cartridge. The cartridge adaptor includes a shutter opener engageable with a shutter opener of the disk apparatus to open and close a shutter of the second cartridge, a projection engageable with a recess of the second cartridge to restrict insertion direction of the second cartridge into the disk apparatus, and a conveying member which is inserted into a transmission aperture formed in correspondence with an identification hole formed in the second cartridge, thereby opening and closing a detection hole of the cartridge adaptor formed at a corresponding position to an identification hole of the first cartridge. When the cartridge adaptor accommodating the second cartridge is mounted in the disk apparatus, the shutter of the second cartridge is opened, and the information on a disk housed in the second cartridge provided by the identification hole is correctly detected by the disk apparatus.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/217,203filed Mar. 23, 1994 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cartridge adaptor mountable in a diskapparatus for reproducing or recording and reproducing a diskaccommodated in a cartridge, and also to a cartridge to be accommodatedin the cartridge adaptor.

2. Description of the Related Art

Along with recent improvement in the recording density of disk-shapedrecording mediums such as optical disks, the resistance of suchrecording mediums against dust and scratches has been lowered. For thepurpose of protection of the surfaces, such recording mediums areaccommodated in a cartridge formed of a plastic material or the like.

A cartridge includes a case having an opening for accommodating a disk,a shutter for opening and closing the opening, and the like. Through theopening, a disk driving mechanism and a recording and reproducing headis inserted into the cartridge.

Today, optical disks are available in sizes of 3.5 inches and 5.25inches in the field of data processing. In the audio and video field,the optical disks are available from a minimum size of 2.5 inches to amaximum size of 12 inches. Different cartridges for reproducing orrecording and reproducing apparatuses are designed to receive differentsizes of optical disks.

Demand for recording data in and reproducing data from different sizesof disks using one disk apparatus has been increased. Different sizes ofdisks, which are accommodated in different sizes of cartridges, canhardly be mounted directly in one disk apparatus. In order to mount acartridge which is smaller than a cartridge which the disk apparatus isdesigned to receive, the smaller cartridge is first accommodated in acartridge adaptor and then the cartridge adaptor is mounted in the diskapparatus. Examples of such a cartridge adaptor are disclosed inJapanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Nos. 2 -121174 and 2 -187973.

A conventional cartridge to be accommodated in a cartridge adaptormainly includes a cartridge case having a head opening, a shutter foropening and closing the head opening, and an optical disk rotatablyaccommodated in the cartridge case. A surface of the cartridge case hasa write protect tab for prohibiting erroneous deletion of data. Theshutter is constantly elastically biased to close the head opening by aspring member built in the cartridge case.

A conventional cartridge adaptor mainly includes a case having acartridge receptacle portion and a head opening and a shutter foropening and closing the head opening. In the case, an arm for openingand closing the shutter of the cartridge is pivotably supported. The armis elastically biased by a tension spring. The case has a detection holefor, when the cartridge is accommodated in the cartridge adaptor,detecting the state of the write protect tab from outside the cartridgeadaptor.

When the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge adaptor, a tip of thearm engages the shutter of the cartridge, thereby opening the shutter ofthe cartridge. When the cartridge adaptor is inserted into the diskapparatus, the shutter of the cartridge adaptor is opened, and theoptical disk accommodated in the cartridge can be recorded orreproduced.

The cartridge and the cartridge adaptor having the above-describedconventional structure has the following inconveniences.

(1) It is necessary to provide in the cartridge adaptor an arm foropening and closing the shutter of the cartridge and a shutter formedof, for example, a spring and a slider. The provision of such membersare difficult due to the limited space in the cartridge adaptor and alsomakes the structure of the cartridge adaptor complicated. The provisionof these members also limits the height of the cartridge receptacleportion since space in which the shutter is movably provided isnecessary. Accordingly, the cartridge adaptor may not be able toaccommodate a thick cartridge.

(2) In the case when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridgeadaptor upside down, the tip of the arm does not engage the shutter ofthe cartridge. Then, the cartridge may undesirably be mounted in thecartridge adaptor with the shutter of the cartridge being closed. If thecartridge adaptor in such a state is inserted into the disk apparatus,the optical disk cannot be recorded or reproduced since the shutter ofthe cartridge is closed, and further an optical head of the diskapparatus may undesirably collide against the shutter of the cartridgeand be broken.

(3) Generally, cartridges and cartridge adaptors for two-sided opticaldisks have an identifier for discriminating an A side from a B side ofthe optical disk. The identifier is detected by the disk apparatus toidentify whether the current side is the A side or the B side, and thusdata can be written in or read from the optical disk correctly. Theabove-described conventional cartridge adaptor can accommodate acartridge even if the cartridge is inserted upside down. Accordingly,the cartridge may undesirably be mounted in the cartridge adaptor withthe B side of the cartridge being on the A side of the cartridgeadaptor. When this occurs, the disk apparatus detects the identifier forthe A side of the cartridge adaptor and thus recognizes the current sideas A, although the correct current side is B. Such an inconvenience maycause malfunction of the disk apparatus.

(4) The write protect tab for prohibiting erroneous deletion of data andthe above-mentioned identifier are disposed at ends of the cartridge sothat the tab and the identifier may not interfere with the optical diskaccommodated in the cartridge. Accordingly, different sizes ofcartridges have the tabs and the identifiers at different positions inthe state of being mounted in the disk apparatus. The above-describedconventional cartridge adaptor has a hole for detecting the state of thewrite protect tab from outside the cartridge adaptor. However, acartridge accommodated in the cartridge adaptor has a write protect tabat a different position from the position of the write protect tab of acartridge which the disk apparatus is designed to receive. Such aninconvenience requires provision of a mechanism in the disk apparatusfor detecting the state of the write protect tab, which makes thestructure of the disk apparatus complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A cartridge adaptor, according to the present invention, for allowing adisk apparatus designed to receive a first cartridge accommodating afirst disk and provided with a shutter opening and closing mechanism foropening and closing a shutter of the first cartridge, to perform atleast one of data reproduction and data recording from and in a seconddisk accommodated in a second cartridge, the second cartridge beingsmaller in external profile than the first cartridge and provided with ashutter for providing an opening of the second cartridge for insertiontherethrough of at least a head for at least one of reproducing andrecording and a disk driving mechanism of the disk apparatus, thecartridge adaptor includes a housing for accommodating the secondcartridge, the housing having an opening for insertion therethrough ofat least the head and the disk driving mechanism; a shutter openermovable in the housing and having a first engaging section engageablewith the shutter opening and closing mechanism of the disk apparatus anda second engaging section engageable with the shutter of the secondcartridge; and a biasing mechanism for biasing the shutter opener in thedirection of closing the shutter of the second cartridge. The housinghas an external profile substantially identical with the profile of thefirst cartridge so as to be received by the disk apparatus. When thesecond cartridge is mounted in the cartridge adaptor, the position andheight of the second disk relative to the cartridge adaptorsubstantially correspond to the position and height of the first diskrelative to the first cartridge.

In one embodiment of the invention, when the cartridge adaptor isinserted into the disk apparatus, the first engaging section engages theshutter opening and closing mechanism of the disk apparatus and causesthe shutter opener to move through a first distance, after which thesecond engaging section engages the shutter of the second cartridge andmoves through a second distance to move the shutter of the secondcartridge. The second distance is less than the distance of movement ofthe shutter of the first cartridge when the first cartridge is insertedinto the disk apparatus.

In one embodiment of the invention, the shutter opener includes a firstopener which includes the first engaging section and is movable by thedistance of movement of the shutter of the first cartridge; and a secondopener which has the second engaging section and a contact sectioncontactable with the first opener and movable by the distance ofmovement of the shutter of the second cartridge when the secondcartridge is inserted into the disk apparatus. When the cartridgeadaptor is inserted into the disk apparatus, the first opener moves bythe difference between the distance of movement of the shutter of thefirst cartridge and the distance of movement of the shutter of thesecond cartridge and then the contact section of the second openercontacts the first opener.

In another aspect to the invention, in a combination of a cartridgeadaptor mountable in a disk apparatus designed to perform at least oneof data reproduction and data recording from and in a disk accommodatedin a first cartridge, and a second cartridge to be accommodated in thecartridge adaptor, the second cartridge is smaller in external profilethan the first cartridge and includes an opening for insertiontherethrough of at least a head for at least one of reproducing andrecording and a disk driving mechanism of the disk apparatus, twosurfaces respectively corresponding to an A side and a B side, and anidentification device for indicating which of the two surfaces is the Aside and which is the B side. The cartridge adaptor includes a housingfor accommodating the second cartridge, and the housing has an externalprofile substantially identical with the external profile of the firstcartridge, two surfaces respectively corresponding to an A side and a Bside, an opening for insertion therethrough of at least the head and thedisk driving mechanism, and an insertion restriction device for allowinginsertion of the second cartridge to the cartridge adaptor only when theA side of the second cartridge is on the A side of the cartridgeadaptor.

In one embodiment of the invention, the insertion restriction deviceincludes a projection; and the identification device has a recess forengaging the projection only when the A side of the second cartridge ison the A side of the cartridge adaptor.

In one embodiment of the invention, the recess of the second cartridgeis provided only on the A side for use of the second cartridge with aone-sided disk and also acts as a positioning hole for engaging a pin ofa second disk apparatus designed to receive the second cartridge forpreventing overinsertion of the second cartridge into the second diskapparatus; and the projection of the cartridge adaptor also acts as apositioning pin for engaging the positioning hole.

In one embodiment of the invention, the recess of the identificationdevice includes an identification hole for allowing the disk apparatusto distinguish the A side from the B side of the cartridge adaptor.

In one embodiment of the invention, the second cartridge has at aleading end thereof an end face extending between two corners of thesecond cartridge, the two corners each having different shapes on the Aside and the B side in order to prohibit erroneous insertion of thesecond cartridge for a one-sided disk into the disk apparatus and torestrict an insertion direction of the second cartridge for a two-sideddisk and the second cartridge for the one-sided disk. One of the twocorners of the second cartridge for the two-sided disk has a recess onone of the A side and the B side, and the other corner has one of arecess and a cutoff both on the A side and the B side. One of the twocorners of the second cartridge for the one-sided disk has a recess onone of the A side and the B side, and the other corner has a shapesymmetrical with the one of the two corners with respect to a centerline thereof.

In one embodiment of the invention, the second cartridge has at aleading end thereof an end face extending between two corners of thesecond cartridge, the two corners each having different shapes on the Aside and the B side in order to prohibit erroneous insertion of thesecond cartridge into the disk apparatus.

In one embodiment of the invention, one of the two corners of the secondcartridge has a recess on one of the A side and the B side, and theother corner has one of a recess and a cutoff both on the A side and theB side.

In one embodiment of the invention, one of the two corners of the secondcartridge has a recess on one of the A side and the B side, and theother corner has a shape symmetrical with the one of the two cornerswith respect to a center line thereof.

In still another aspect of the invention, in a combination of acartridge adaptor mountable in a disk apparatus designed to perform atleast one of data reproduction and data recording from and in a diskaccommodated in a first cartridge provided with an identifier forproviding information indicating one of a characteristic of the firstcartridge and a characteristic of the disk accommodated in the firstcartridge, and a second cartridge to be accommodated in the cartridgeadaptor, the cartridge adaptor includes a housing for accommodating thesecond cartridge, and the housing has an external profile substantiallyidentical with the external profile of the first cartridge, an openingfor insertion therethrough of at least a head for at least one ofrecording and reproducing and a disk driving mechanism of the diskapparatus, and an identification detection section located at acorresponding position to the identifier of the first cartridge. Thesecond cartridge is smaller in external profile than the firstcartridge, and includes an opening for insertion therethrough of atleast the head and the disk driving mechanism, an identifier forproviding information indicating a characteristic of the secondcartridge, and an identification information conveying device forconveying the information provided by the identifier of the secondcartridge to the identification detection section of the cartridgeadaptor.

In one embodiment of the invention, the identifier includes anidentification hole and indicates the information based on whether theidentification hole is opened or closed. The identification informationconveying device includes a transmission aperture provided in a sidesurface of the second cartridge when the identification is opened. Theidentification detection section includes a detection hole provided at acorresponding position to the identifier of the first cartridge, amovable member movable to a first position in the transmission aperturewhen the identification hole is open and held in a second positiondisplaced from the first position when the identification hole isclosed, and an elastic member for biasing the movable member toward thefirst position. When the identification hole is open, the movable membermoves to the first position by a biasing force of the elastic member,thereby opening the detection hole. When the identification hole isclosed, the movable member moves to the second position against thebiasing force of the elastic member, thereby closing the detection hole.

In one embodiment of the invention, the housing includes an insertionopening in a receptacle portion thereof for insertion therethrough ofthe second cartridge, and a lid connected to the receptacle portion forclosing the insertion opening; and the lid includes the detection hole,the movable member and the elastic member.

In one embodiment of the invention, the cartridge adaptor comprises anerroneous deletion prohibiting mechanism having an end surface, anidentification hole, and a transmission aperture provided on the sidesurface to be opened and closed by the end surface of the erroneousdeletion prohibiting mechanism based on whether the secondidentification hole is opened or closed.

In one embodiment of the invention, the second cartridge includes anerroneous deletion prohibiting mechanism, and the cartridge adaptorincludes an opening along which the erroneous deletion prohibitingmechanism is movable.

In one embodiment of the invention, the housing includes a receptacleportion having top and bottom sides, an insertion opening in thereceptacle portion at one of the top and bottom sides, a lid pivotablymovable relative to the receptacle portion to open, and a movingmechanism for moving the movable member in association with the movementof the lid.

In yet another aspect of the invention, in a combination of a diskapparatus for performing at least one of data reproduction and datarecording from and in a first disk accommodated in a first cartridge,and a cartridge adaptor for accommodating a second cartridge and forallowing the disk apparatus to perform date reproduction and datarecording from and in a second disk accommodated in the secondcartridge, the second cartridge being smaller in external profile thanthe first cartridge and having at a leading end thereof an end faceextended between two corners, the disk apparatus includes an erroneousinsertion prohibiting mechanism for prohibiting insertion of an impropercartridge and prohibiting insertion of the first cartridge in animproper direction. The cartridge adaptor has at a leading end thereofan end face extended between two corners, and includes corner shapechanging means for changing, in association with insertion of the secondcartridge into the second cartridge, the shape of at least one of thetwo corners of the cartridge adaptor to one of a first shape whichallows mounting of the cartridge adaptor in the disk apparatus and asecond shape which prohibits mounting of the cartridge adaptor in thedisk apparatus, based on the shape of at least one of the two corners ofthe second cartridge.

According to the present invention, the shutter of the second cartridgecan be opened and closed by the shutter opening and closing mechanism ofthe disk apparatus. Accordingly, a shutter can be eliminated from thecartridge adaptor. This simplifies the structure of the cartridgeadaptor, and enlarges the slot of the cartridge adaptor foraccommodating the second cartridge.

Further according to the present invention, damage to the head of thedisk apparatus and malfunction of the disk apparatus caused by insertionof the cartridge into the cartridge adaptor in a wrong direction orinsertion of the cartridge adaptor into the disk apparatus in a wrongdirection can be avoided.

Thus, the invention described herein makes possible the advantages ofproviding (1) a cartridge adaptor having a simple structure forfacilitating mounting of a cartridge with a shutter in a disk apparatus,the cartridge having a different size from the size of a cartridge whichthe disk apparatus is designed to receive; (2) a cartridge adaptor forrealizing correct reproduction of data or correct recording andreproduction of data in and from a disk by a disk apparatus, the diskbeing accommodated in a cartridge having a different size from the sizeof a cartridge which a disk apparatus is designed to receive, and acartridge to be accommodated in such a cartridge adaptor; and (3) acartridge adaptor for conveying identification information of acartridge to a disk apparatus in a simple manner without changing thestructure of the disk apparatus, the cartridge being smaller than acartridge which the disk apparatus is designed to receive.

These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparentto those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the followingdetailed description with reference to the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a cartridge adaptor and a cartridge to beaccommodated in the cartridge adaptor in a first example according tothe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cut top view of the cartridge adaptor in the stateof accommodating the cartridge shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are partial top views of the cartridge adaptor and thecartridge accommodated in the cartridge adaptor illustrated in FIG. 1,illustrating the relationship between an information identificationsection of the cartridge and an information identifier of the cartridgeadaptor.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the cartridge adaptor shown in FIG. 1 anda disk apparatus for mounting the cartridge adaptor.

FIG. 5 is a partial isometric view of a second cartridge in a secondexample according to the present invention.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are partial top views of the second cartridge shown inFIG. 5 accommodated in a cartridge adaptor in the second example.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the second cartridge and the cartridgeadaptor in a modification of the second example.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a cartridge adaptor and a secondcartridge to be accommodated in the cartridge adaptor and used for atwo-sided disk in a third example according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a second cartridge used for a one-sideddisk.

FIG. 10 is a partial top view of the cartridge adaptor in the state ofaccommodating the second cartridge for the two-sided disk illustrated inFIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a partial top view of the cartridge adaptor in the state ofaccommodating the second cartridge for the one-sided disk illustrated inFIG. 9.

FIG. 12A is a plan view of the second cartridge for the two-sided diskseen from the A side.

FIG. 12B is a plan view of the second cartridge for the two-sided diskseen from the B side.

FIG. 12C is a plan view of the second cartridge for the one-sided diskseen from the A side.

FIG. 12D is a plan view of the second cartridge for the one-sided diskseen from the B side.

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of a cartridge holding plate of a diskapparatus designed to receive the second cartridges for the two-sideddisk and the one-sided disk.

FIG. 14 is an isometric view of a cartridge adaptor and a secondcartridge to be accommodated in the cartridge adaptor in a fourthexample according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a partially cut top view of the cartridge adaptor in thestate of accommodating the second cartridge shown in FIG. 14.

FIGS. 16A and 16B are side views of the cartridge adaptor shown in FIG.14.

FIGS. 17A and 17B are partial top views of the cartridge adaptor in thestate of accommodating the second cartridge shown in FIG. 14.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described by way ofillustrative examples with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Example 1

A cartridge adaptor and a cartridge to be accommodated in the cartridgeadaptor in a first embodiment according to the present invention will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a cartridge adaptor 130 and a cartridge 3of the first example. The cartridge adaptor 130 in the state ofaccommodating the cartridge 3 is inserted into a disk apparatus (notshown in FIG. 1) designed to receive another cartridge (not shown). Thecartridge adaptor 130 has the same size as the latter cartridge.Hereinafter, the latter cartridge will be referred to as the "firstcartridge", and the former cartridge 3 to be accommodated in thecartridge adaptor 130 will be referred to as the "second cartridge".FIG. 2 is a partially cut top view of the cartridge adaptor 130accommodating the second cartridge 3.

With reference to FIG. 1, the cartridge adaptor 130 has the followingstructure.

The cartridge adaptor 130 includes a housing 1 having a receptacleportion 2. The receptacle portion 2 has a slot 2b for accommodating thesecond cartridge 3, and an opening 4. Although the first cartridge isnot shown, the first cartridge also includes an opening. The opening 4of the second cartridge 3 has the same profile as the profile of theopening of the first cartridge. The second cartridge 3 has substantiallythe same external profile as the external profile of the firstcartridge. Through the opening 4, a disk driving mechanism and the likeof a driving device of the disk apparatus are inserted into thereceptacle portion 2 of the cartridge adaptor 130.

The receptacle portion 2 has an insertion opening 2a through which thesecond cartridge 3 is inserted. A shutter opener 5 for opening a shutter26 of the second cartridge 3 is located on a side wall of the slot 2b.The shutter opener 5 is slidable along a groove 7a formed in a sidesurface of the receptacle portion 2 and is biased in the direction ofarrow A by a spring 8. As is best shown in FIG. 2, an end 6 of theshutter opener 5 projects into the groove 7a. Another end 5a of theshutter opener 5 projects through the side wall of the slot 2b, and isshaped to be inserted through a shutter opener groove 9 formed in a sidesurface of the second cartridge 3. A distance by which the shutteropener 5 can move is set to be longer than a distance by which theshutter 26 of the second cartridge 3 can move. The receptacle portion 2has another groove (not shown) on the side face opposed to the sidesurface in which the groove 7a is formed.

As is best shown in FIG. 2, the receptacle portion 2 further haspositioning holes 10 and slanting sections 11a and 11b. The positioningholes 10 are formed to correspond to positioning holes of the firstcartridge. The slanting sections 11a and 11b are formed at corners of aleading end surface of the receptacle portion 2, and correspond to anerroneous insertion prohibiting mechanism of the disk apparatusdescribed later.

The housing 1 has a lid 12 connected to the receptacle portion 2 to bepivotable about a support 13 for opening and closing the insertionopening 2a of the receptacle portion 2. The support 13 is located at anend of the lid 12. When the lid 12 closes the insertion opening 2a, thehousing 1 has substantially the same profile as the profile of the firstcartridge. The lid 12 has a locking member 14 at an end opposite to theend having the support 13. The locking member 14 includes a claw 17projecting from a face of the lid 14 to be in contact with the secondcartridge 3 and a switch 14a housed in a lock opening 18 located at theend opposite to the end having the support 13. The locking member 14 isbiased by a spring 19 in such a direction that the claw 17 may engage anopening 20 when the lid 12 closes the insertion opening 2a. As is bestshown in FIG. 1, the opening 20 is formed in a rear end surface of thereceptacle portion 2 in which the insertion opening 2a is formed. Whenthe switch 14a is pressed inside the lid 12 from the state shown in FIG.2, the claw 17 is released from the opening 20.

The lid 12 includes circular openings 15, conveying members 16, and acylindrical projection 28. The openings 15 act as an identifying sectionfor conveying identification information concerning the second cartridge3 to the disk apparatus. The openings 15 are formed so as to, when thelid 12 is closed, be located at the positions corresponding toidentification holes of the first cartridge. The conveying members 16,which are provided in the corresponding number with the openings 15,convey the information provided by an identifier (described later) ofthe second cartridge 3 to the openings 15. The conveying members 16 eachinclude an insertion section 22 which can be inserted into transmissionapertures 21 (FIG. 1) formed in a rear surface 3a of the secondcartridge 3 and a detection section 23 for opening and closing thecorresponding opening 15. The conveying members 16 are slidable withrespect to the lid 12 and are biased by elastic springs 24 so that theinsertion section 22 will project from the face of the lid 12contactable with the rear surface 3a of the second cartridge 3. Theprojection 28 is provided for restricting the direction in which thesecond cartridge 3 is inserted into the receptacle portion 2, andprojects into the slot 2b when the lid 12 is closed.

The cartridge adaptor 130 is used for two-sided optical disks.Hereinafter, the top surface of the cartridge adaptor 130 in FIG. 1 isreferred to as "the A side", and the bottom surface is referred to as"the B side". A one-sided cartridge adaptor has neither the opening 4 onthe bottom side nor the slanting section 11b.

With reference to FIG. 1, the second cartridge 3 has the followingstructure.

The second cartridge 3 includes an opening 25 through which areproducing or a recording and reproducing head and the disk drivingmechanism of the disk apparatus are inserted, a shutter 26 for openingand closing the opening 25, and a positioning hole 27. As is mentionedabove, the second cartridge 3 includes the shutter opener groove 9formed in the side surface thereof. As is best shown in FIG. 2, amovable shutter opener 29 formed of a flexible material is guided alongthe shutter opener groove 9. The shutter opener 29 has a claw 29a at anend thereof, and another end 29b of the shutter opener 29 is connectedwith the shutter 26 by a screw (not shown) and engages a spring 30. Theconnection among the shutter opener 29, the shutter 26 and the spring 30is described in detail in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 61-236083, and detailed description is omitted here.

While a first disk (not shown) is accommodated in the first cartridgefor accommodating the first disk, a second disk 31 is accommodated inthe second cartridge 3 for accommodating the second disk 31. The secondcartridge 3 has a central hole (not shown) which is located at theidentical position as the position of a central hole of the first diskwhen mounted in the disk apparatus. As is mentioned above, thetransmission apertures 21 for receiving the insertion sections 22 of thelid 12 are formed in the rear surface 3a of the cartridge 3. The rearsurface 3a further has a recess 33 formed therein. The transmissionapertures 21 are provided when identification holes 32 acting as anidentifier are formed or opened in a top surface of the second cartridge3. Information on the cartridge 3 is indicated based on the state of theidentification holes 32. The identification holes 32 may be provided indifferent types, depending on a method of detection performed by thedriving device. In this example, the identification holes 32 are eachprovided as a through-hole formed in the second cartridge 3. Suchidentification holes 32 can be used in a method for measuring a distanceof movement of a mechanical switch provided in the disk apparatus andanother method using a transmission type photointerruptor. The recess 33is located at a position corresponding to the position of the projection28 of the cartridge adaptor 130, and has a circular periphery forreceiving the projection 28. The second cartridge 3 is used fortwo-sided optical disks. Hereinafter, the top surface of the secondcartridge 3 in FIG. 1 is referred to as "the A side", and the bottomsurface is referred to as "the B side". The recess 33 is positioned soas to receive the projection 28 only when the A side of the secondcartridge 3 is inserted into the receptacle portion 2 of the cartridgeadaptor 130 with the A side of the second cartridge 3 being on the Aside of the cartridge adaptor 130 as is shown in FIG. 1. The projection28 and the recess 33 act together as insertion restriction means forrestricting the direction in which the second cartridge 3 is insertedinto the receptacle portion 2.

The slot 2b of the cartridge adaptor 130 is positioned so that theposition of the positioning holes 10 relative to the central hole of thesecond disk 31 in the state where the second cartridge 3 is held in theslot 2b can substantially correspond to the position of the positioningholes (not shown) of the first cartridge relative to the central hole ofthe first disk accommodated in the first cartridge. The opening 4 of thecartridge adaptor 130 is shaped to accommodate the opening 25 of thesecond cartridge 3.

The end 5a of the shutter opener 5 of the cartridge adaptor 130 is outof contact with the claw 29a of the shutter opener 29 of the secondcartridge 3 in the state where the cartridge adaptor 130 is not insertedinto the disk apparatus. The shutter opener 5 is set so as to contactthe shutter opener 29 and move by the same distance as the distance ofmovement of the shutter 26 when the cartridge adaptor 130 is insertedinto the disk apparatus.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the mounting operation of the secondcartridge 3 in the cartridge adaptor 130 will be described.

The second cartridge 3 is inserted into the receptacle portion 2 of thecartridge adaptor 130 through the insertion opening 2a with the A sideof the second cartridge 3 being on the A side of the cartridge adaptor130. At this point, as is illustrated in FIG. 2, the end 5a of theshutter opener 5 of the cartridge adaptor 130 is inserted into theshutter opener groove 9 of the second cartridge 3 and stops in thevicinity of the claw 29a of the shutter opener 29 of the secondcartridge 3 without contacting the claw 29a. Then, the lid 12 is pivotedin the direction of closing of the insertion opening 2a. The projection28 of the lid 12 is inserted into the recess 33 of the second cartridge3 and the claw 17 of the locking member 14 engages the opening 20,thereby securing the lid 12. In this state, the position of thepositioning holes 10 of the cartridge adaptor 130 relative to thecentral hole of the second disk 31 substantially corresponds to theposition of the positioning holes of the first cartridge relative to thecentral hole of the first disk accommodated in the first cartridge.Further, the opening 25 of the second cartridge 3 is accommodated in theopening 4 of the cartridge adaptor 130. Thus, the second cartridge 3 isproperly mounted in the cartridge adaptor 130.

In the case when the second cartridge 3 is inserted into the receptacleportion 2 of the cartridge adaptor 130 with the A side of the secondcartridge 3 being on the B side of the cartridge adaptor 130 and the lid12 is pivoted in the direction of closing the insertion opening 2a, theprojection 28 contacts a flat part of the rear surface of the secondcartridge 3, thus preventing the claw 17 from engaging the opening 20.The lid 12 cannot be secured, and the second cartridge 3 cannot bemounted in the cartridge adaptor 130.

With reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the relationship between theidentification holes 32 of the second cartridge 3 and the openings 15 ofthe cartridge adaptor 130 will be described. FIGS. 3A and 3B are partialtop views of the cartridge adaptor 130 and the second cartridge 3accommodated in the cartridge adaptor 130.

When the second cartridge 3 is mounted in the cartridge adaptor 130, theidentification holes 32 of the second cartridge 3 and the openings 15have the following relationship.

As is shown in FIG. 3A, in the state where the transmission apertures 21or the identification holes 32 are not provided or are closed, theinsertion section 22 contacts the flat part of the rear surface of thesecond cartridge 3. Accordingly, the conveying members 16 slide towardinside the lid 12 against the biasing force of the springs 24, and thusthe detection sections 23 move to below the openings 15 to close theopenings 15.

As is shown in FIG. 3B, in the state where the transmission apertures 21and the identification holes 32 are provided or open, the insertionsections 22 are inserted into the transmission apertures 21 by thebiasing force of the springs 24. Accordingly, the detection sections 23slide toward outside the lid 12 to open the openings 15.

As is apparent from the above description, the state of eachidentification hole 32 is the same as the state of the correspondingopening 15.

With reference to FIG. 4, the mounting operation of the cartridgeadaptor 130 accommodating the second cartridge 3 in a loading mechanism41 of the disk apparatus will be described. The disk apparatus includesa loading mechanism 41, the disk driving mechanism and the reproducingor recording and reproducing head. Neither the disk driving mechanismnor the head is shown.

First, the loading mechanism 41 will be described.

As is shown in FIG. 4, the loading mechanism 41 includes a substrate 49,a cartridge holding plate 42, pins 43 fixed to the cartridge holdingplate 42, and positioning pins 44. The cartridge holding plate 42 has anopening 42a, through which the cartridge adaptor 130 or the firstcartridge is inserted for recording and reproduction. The loadingmechanism 41 further includes a cam 45 for vertically moving thecartridge holding plate 42, a pin 46 fixed on the cam 45, a spring 47for biasing the cam 45 in such a direction as to move the cartridgeholding plate 42 downward, and a lever 48 pivotably supported on thesubstrate 49. The lever 48 includes a slanting section 48a to be incontact with the cartridge adaptor 130 and an engaging section 48b forengaging the pin 46. A spring 50 is provided for biasing the lever 48 insuch a direction to engage the pin 46. The cartridge holding plate 42includes a claw 51 for prohibiting erroneous insertion of the cartridgeadaptor 130, and a shutter opening claw 52 in shape for opening theshutter 26 of the second cartridge 3. Although not shown, anothershutter opening claw identical with the shutter opening claw 52 isprovided on the opposite side from the shutter opening claw 52. Switches53 provided for detecting the identification holes of the firstcartridge are fixed on a bottom part of the substrate 49. The switches53 identify the information on the cartridge based on the state of theidentification holes.

The insertion operation of the cartridge adaptor 130 into the loadingmechanism 41 will be described.

When the cartridge adaptor 130 is inserted into the loading mechanism 41with the A side of the cartridge adaptor 130 at the top, the cartridgeadaptor 130 is properly positioned in the thickness direction and thewidth direction thereof by the cartridge holding plate 42. The end 6 ofthe shutter opener 5 engages the shutter opening claw 52 of thecartridge holding plate 42. Accordingly, as the cartridge adaptor 130 isfurther inserted into the loading mechanism 41, the end 5a of theshutter opener 5 slides along the shutter opener groove 9, therebycontacting the claw 29a of the shutter opener 29 of the second cartridge3 (FIG. 2). Thus, the shutter 26 is opened, thereby exposing the seconddisk 31 in the opening 4. When the cartridge adaptor 130 is furtherinserted into the loading mechanism 41 until the slanting section 11aalmost contacts the claw 51 of the cartridge holding plate 42, thecartridge adaptor 130 contacts the slanting section 48a of the lever 48,thereby pivoting and thus releasing the lever 48 from the pin 46 fixedon the cam 45. Accordingly, the cam 45 moves downward by the biasingforce of the spring 47, and thus the cartridge holding plate 42accommodating the cartridge adaptor 130, with the slanting section 11aabutting the claw 51, moves downward. The positioning pins 44 areinserted to the positioning holes 10 of the cartridge adaptor 130,thereby positioning the cartridge adaptor 130 on the substrate 49. Whilethe cartridge adaptor 130 is moved downward, the head and the motor diskof the disk apparatus are inserted into the opening 25 of the secondcartridge 3. Since the opening 25 has a sufficient space for theinsertion of the head and the motor disk, the head and the motor diskare kept out of contact with the second cartridge 3.

When the cartridge adaptor 130 is positioned on the substrate 49, theposition of the central hole of the second disk 31 substantiallycorresponds to the position of the central hole of the first diskaccommodated in the first cartridge in the state of being mounted in thedisk apparatus. By such a setting, the second disk 31 is secured at aspecified position of the disk driving mechanism. The second disk 31 isclamped to the disk driving mechanism by a known clamping method. Theswitches 53 are elevated toward the openings 15 of the cartridge adaptor130 to identify the information on the second cartridge 3.

How information on the second cartridge 3 is detected by the switches 53will be described in detail.

As is mentioned above, the state of each identification hole 32 is thesame as the state of the corresponding opening 15. For example, in asystem where two identification holes 32 are provided at the maximum,information on the cartridge 3 is indicated by whether (a) twoidentification holes are provided or open, (b) only the rightidentification hole is provided ed or open, (c) only the leftidentification hole is provided or open, or (d) no identification holeis provided or open. The state (a), (b), (c) or (d) is detected byelevation of each switch 53. If the opening 15 is opened, namely, if theidentification hole 32 is provided or open, the switch 53 is insertedthrough the opening 15 and reaches a bottom surface of the cartridgeholding plate 42. If the opening 15 is closed, namely, if theidentification hole 32 is not provided or is closed, the switch 53contacts the B side of the cartridge adaptor 130 and further elevationis prevented. By measuring the distance by which each switch 53 iselevated, the state of each identification hole 32 is detected. Bycombining the states of the two identification holes 32, the informationon the second cartridge 3 is detected.

After the information on the second cartridge 3 is detected, the diskdriving mechanism of the disk apparatus rotates to record data in orreproduce data from the A side of the second disk 31.

When the cartridge adaptor 130 is inserted into the loading mechanism 41with the B side of the cartridge adaptor 130 at the top, the end 6 ofthe shutter opener 5 engages the shutter opening claw 52 to open theshutter 26 in the same manner as mentioned above. The slating section11b abuts the claw 51 and the cartridge adaptor 130 is mounted in theloading mechanism 41 in the same manner as mentioned above. Thus, datais recorded in or reproduced from the side B of the second disk 31.

In the case when the cartridge adaptor 130 is inserted into the loadingmechanism 41 in a wrong direction, for example, from the side of the lid12, the corners of the lid 12, which are not slanted, contact the claw51 and thus further insertion of the cartridge adaptor 130 isprohibited. In this manner, erroneous insertion of and damage to thecartridge adaptor 130 caused by the erroneous insertion are prevented.

With the cartridge adaptor 130 and the second cartridge 3 in the firstexample according to the present invention, the shutter 26 of the secondcartridge 3 can be opened and closed by engagement of the claw 52 of theloading mechanism 41 and the shutter opener 5. By such a mechanism, ashutter can be eliminated from the cartridge adaptor 130. Thissimplifies the structure of the cartridge adaptor 130 and enlarges theslot 2b for easier accommodation of the second cartridge 3.

Further in this example, the shutter opener 5 of the cartridge adaptor130, after engaging the claw 52 of the loading mechanism 41, contactsthe shutter opener 29 of the second cartridge 3 and moves the samedistance with the moving distance of the shutter 26. By such amechanism, the shutter 26 of the second cartridge 3 which is shorterthan the shutter of the first cartridge can certainly be opened.

The projection 28 of the lid 12 is inserted into the recess 33 only whenthe cartridge 3 is inserted into the cartridge adaptor 130 with the Aside of the cartridge 3 being on the A side of the cartridge adaptor130. In this manner, reverse insertion of the second cartridge 3, andfurther malfunction of the disk apparatus caused by such reverseinsertion can be prohibited.

Information indicated by the identifier of the second cartridge 3,namely, the identification holes 32 is conveyed through the conveyingmembers 16 to the openings 15 provided at the positions corresponding tothe positions of identification holes of the first cartridge.Accordingly, identification information on the second cartridge 3 iseasily transmitted to the disk apparatus using the cartridge adaptor 130without changing the structure of the disk apparatus.

The conveying members 16 for conveying the information provided by theidentification holes 32 of the second cartridge 3 to the openings 15,the openings 15 for conveying the information on the second cartridge 3to the disk apparatus, and the springs 24 for biasing the conveyingmembers 16 in such a direction as to project the insertion sections 22toward outside the lid 12 are all provided in the lid 12. Due to such astructure, the insertion sections 22 which are inserted into thetransmission apertures 21 when the lid 12 is closed comes out of thetransmission apertures 21 when the lid 12 is opened to mount or dismountthe second cartridge 3. No extra operation is necessary to release theinsertion section 22 from the transmission aperture 21.

Example 2

With reference to FIGS. 5, 6A and 6B, a cartridge adaptor and a secondcartridge to be accommodated in the cartridge adaptor in a secondexample according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 isa partial isometric view of a second cartridge 3 in the second example.FIGS. 6A and 6B are partial top views of the second cartridge 3 insertedinto a cartridge adaptor 130.

As is illustrated in FIG. 5, the second cartridge 3 includes anerroneous deletion prohibiting member 61, a conveying hole 62, and alengthy detection hole 63. The erroneous deletion prohibiting member 61includes an opening and closing section 61a, a positioning section 64,and a projection 65. The opening and closing section 61a is engageablewith the conveying hole 62. The erroneous deletion prohibiting member 61is located below the detection hole 63, and movable between a positionfor opening the detection hole 63 (described below with reference toFIG. 6B) and another position for closing the detection hole 63(described below with reference to FIG. 6A). The positioning section 64is swingable, and a tip 64a of the positioning section 64 is engageablewith a recess 66b or 66b to position the erroneous deletion prohibitingmember 61 to the position for opening the detection hole 63 or theposition for closing the detection hole 63. The projection 65 is erectedon the erroneous deletion prohibiting member 61 to be located in thedetection hole 63. The erroneous deletion prohibiting member 61 ismovable by sliding the projection 65 by a claw or the like along thedetection hole 63. Except for the above-described parts, the secondcartridge 3 has the same structure with the structure of the secondcartridge 3. Although the erroneous deletion prohibiting member 61 andthe related elements are only shown in one side of the cartridge 3,these elements may be provided on both sides of an end of the secondcartridge 3.

As is shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the cartridge adaptor 130 includes, inaddition to the structure of the cartridge adaptor 130, a conveyingmember 16' engageable with the conveying hole 62, and an opening 15' anda spring 24' both corresponding to the conveying hole 62.

With reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B, operation of erroneous deletionprohibition performed by the second cartridge 3 and the cartridgeadaptor 130 will be described.

When the erroneous deletion prohibiting member 61 is moved to theposition shown in FIG. 6A by sliding the projection 65 along thedetection hole 63, the erroneous deletion prohibiting member 61 closesthe detection hole 63, and the opening and closing section 61a engagesthe conveying hole 62. As in the case where the identification holes 32are not provided in the first example, an insertion section 22' of theconveying member 16' contacts the opening and closing section 61a inengagement with the conveying hole and thus the conveying member 16'moves toward inside the lid 12 against the biasing force of the springAt this point, a detection section 23' of the conveying member 16' movesto below the opening 15', thereby closing the opening 15'.

When the erroneous deletion prohibiting member 61 is moved to theposition shown in FIG. 6B in the same manner as is described above, theerroneous deletion prohibiting member 61 opens the detection hole 63.Simultaneously, the opening and closing section 61a is released from theconveying hole 62, thereby opening the conveying hole 62. As in the casewhen the identification holes 32 are provided in the first example, theinsertion section 22' is inserted into the conveying hole 62 by thebiasing force of the spring 24'. The detection section 23' moves towardoutside the lid 12, thereby opening the opening 15'.

In the second example, the conveying hole 62 is opened or closed usingthe opening and closing section 61a of the erroneous deletionprohibiting member 61. In this way, the state of the erroneous deletionprohibiting member 61 of the second cartridge 3 is conveyed to the diskapparatus by a simple mechanism.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the cartridge 3 and the cartridge adaptor130 in a modification of the second example. In FIG. 7, the cartridgeadaptor 130 has openings 67 at positions corresponding to the positionsof the detection holes 63 of the second cartridge 3. By such astructure, the erroneous deletion prohibiting member 61 can be movedbetween the above-mentioned two positions without dismounting the secondcartridge 3 from the cartridge adaptor 130.

Example 3

With reference to FIGS. 8 through 12D, a cartridge adaptor and acartridge to be accommodated in the cartridge adaptor in a third exampleaccording to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a cartridge adaptor 90 and a secondcartridge 71 to be accommodated in the cartridge adaptor 90 in the thirdexample. The second cartridge 71 is used for a two-sided disk. FIG. 9 isan isometric view of a second cartridge 74 used for a one-sided disk.FIG. 10 is a partial top view of the cartridge adaptor 90 in the stateof accommodating the second cartridge 71 for the two-sided disk. FIG. 11is a partial top view of the cartridge adaptor 90 in the state ofaccommodating the second cartridge 74 for the one-sided disk. FIG. 12Ais a plan view of the second cartridge 71 seen from the A side; FIG. 12Bis a plan view of the second cartridge 71 seen from the B side; FIG. 12Cis a plan view of the second cartridge 74 seen from the A side; and FIG.12 D is a plan view of the second cartridge 71 seen from the B side. Inthe case of the second cartridge 74 for the one-sided disk, datareproduction and data recording is performed from and on the A side.Elements identical with those in the first example bear identicalreference numerals therewith, and explanation thereof will be omitted.

The second cartridge 71 for the two-sided disk has at a leading endthereof an end face extending between two corners of the secondcartridge 71. As is shown in FIGS. 8, 12A and 12B, a first corner of thetwo corners is cut off by half of the thickness of the second cartridge71 to form a recess 72 only on the B side. At a second corner of the twocorners, a triangular portion having the same profile as the profile ofthe recess 72 is cut off to form the slanting section 73, but thetriangular portion is cut off on both of the A side and the B side. Thesecond cartridge 71 does not have the recess 33.

The second cartridge 74 for the one-sided disk has at a leading endthereof an end face extending between two corners of the secondcartridge 74. As is shown in FIGS. 9, 12C and 12D, a first corner of thetwo corners is cut off by the same thickness as the recess 72 of thesecond cartridge 71 to form a recess 75 only on the B side. A secondcorner of the two corners has a recess 76 only on the B side having theidentical profile as the profile of the recess 72. Thus, the secondcartridge 74 is symmetrical with respect to a central line C.

As is illustrated in FIG. 8, the cartridge adaptor 90 includes a housing77 having a receptacle portion 7 2 and the lid 12 pivotably connectedwith the receptacle portion 72. The receptacle portion 72 has a slot 72bfor accommodating the second cartridge 71 or 74. The receptacle portion72 further includes a triangular projection 78 at a corner of the slot72b. The height of the projection 78 is half of the thickness of thesecond cartridge 71 at the maximum. The projection 78 is located toavoid contact with the slanting section 73 of the second cartridge 71 inthe state where the second cartridge 71 is accommodated in the cartridgeadaptor 71.

The cartridge adaptor 90 further includes a shape changing plate 79 forchanging the shape of the slanting section 11b of the housing 77. Theshape changing plate 79 is pivotably supported inside the housing 77. Asis illustrated in FIG. 10, the shape changing plate 79 includes a firstface 79a contactable with the A side of the second corner of the secondcartridge 74 and a second face 79b contactable with the claw 51 (FIG. 4)for prohibiting erroneous insertion of the second cartridge 74 into theloading mechanism 41. The shape changing plate 79 is biased by a spring80 in such a direction as to keep the second face 79b inside theslanting section 11b. In the state where no second cartridge isinserted, the first face 79a of the shape changing plate 79 partiallycontacts a stopping section 81 provided in the housing 77. The face 79acovers a corner of the slot 72b and is retained at such a position as tobe kept out of contact with the slanting section 73 of the secondcartridge 71 (FIG. 10) but as to be in contact with the A side of thesecond cartridge 74. Accordingly, the second face 79b is in a groove 7bformed on the side surface of the housing 77 (mentioned in the firstexample but not shown in FIG. 1), inside the slanting section 11b of thehousing The shape changing plate 79 and the groove 7b interpose a spacetherebetween through which the claw 52 of the loading mechanism 41 (FIG.4) and another claw on the opposite side from the claw 52 of the loadingmechanism 41 can pass.

The mounting operation of the second cartridges 71 and 74 in thecartridge adaptor 90 will be described.

First, the mounting operation of the second cartridge 71 accommodatingthe two-sided disk will be described.

When the second cartridge 71 is inserted into the receptacle portion 72of the cartridge adaptor 90 with the A side of the second cartridge 71being on the A side of the cartridge adaptor 90, the projection 78properly abuts the slanting section 73. The lid 12 is closed, and thesecond cartridge 71 is mounted in the cartridge adaptor 90.

Since the first face 79a of the shape plate 79 and the slanting section73 are kept out of contact with each other as is mentioned above, theslanting section 11b of the housing 77 maintains the shape thereof.Accordingly, the external profile of the cartridge adaptor 90 in thestate of accommodating the second cartridge 71 seen from the A side isthe same as the external profile thereof seen from the B side. Thus, thecartridge adaptor 90 can be mounted in the disk apparatus and recordingand reproduction can be performed with either side of the cartridgeadaptor 90 at the top, as in the first example.

In the case when the second cartridge 71 is inserted into the cartridgeadaptor 90 with the B side of the second cartridge 71 being on the Aside of the cartridge adaptor 90, the A side of the first corner of thesecond cartridge 71 contacts the projection 78, and further insertion isprohibited. Accordingly, the claw 17 of the locking member 14 in the lid12 does not engage the opening 20, and thus the second cartridge 71cannot be mounted.

Next, mounting of the second cartridge 74 accommodating the one-sideddisk in the cartridge adaptor 90 will be described.

When the second cartridge 74 is inserted into the receptacle portion 72of the cartridge adaptor 90 with the A side of the second cartridge 74being on the A side of the cartridge adaptor 90, the projection 28 isinserted into the recess 76 of the second cartridge 74. The lid 12 isclosed, and thus the second cartridge 74 is mounted in the cartridgeadaptor 90.

FIG. 11 shows the state of the shape changing plate 79 at this point.The A side of the second corner of the second cartridge 74 contacts thefirst face 79a of the shape changing plate 79, thereby pivoting theshape changing plate 79 from the position indicated by the dashed lineto the position indicated by the solid line against the biasing force ofthe spring 80. The second face 79b projects from the slanting section11b of cartridge adaptor 90, thereby forming a right-angled corner.

Accordingly, in the case when the cartridge adaptor 90 in the state ofaccommodating the second cartridge 74 is inserted into the loadingmechanism 41 with the B side of the cartridge adaptor 90 at the top, thesecond face 79b contacts the claw 51 in the loading mechanism 41 (FIG.4), thereby prohibiting further insertion of the cartridge adaptor 90.By such structure, damage to the disk apparatus and to the secondcartridge 74 caused by erroneous insertion is prevented.

In the case when the second cartridge 74 is inserted into the receptacleportion 72 of the cartridge adaptor 90 with the B side of the cartridgeadaptor 74 being on the A side of the cartridge adaptor 90, theprojection 78 contacts the A side of the first corner of the secondcartridge 74, thereby prohibiting further insertion of the secondcartridge 74. Accordingly, the second cartridge 74 cannot be mounted.

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of a cartridge holding plate 82 of a diskapparatus designed to receive the second cartridge 71 or 74.

As is shown in FIG. 13, the cartridge holding plate 82 includes a claw83. The claw 83 has a height which is half of the thickness of thesecond cartridges 74 and 71 at the maximum so as to be relativelyinserted into the recess 72 of the second cartridge 71 and the recess 75of the second cartridge 74 but not to interfere the slanting section 73of the second cartridge 71. By provision of the claw 83, the secondcartridges 71 and 74 can be inserted with either the A or B side at thetop, and the second cartridge 74 can be inserted only with the A side atthe top.

In the third example, the second cartridge 71 for the two-sided disk andthe second cartridge 74 for the one-sided disk both have differentshapes on the A side from on the B side. Due to such differences,erroneous insertion of the cartridge 74 into the cartridge adaptor 90 isprevented, and further the second cartridges 71 and 74 is inserted onthe correct side with respect to the cartridge adaptor 90. As a result,damage to the head and the like of the disk apparatus and malfunction ofthe disk apparatus can be prevented, thus realizing appropriatereproduction or recording and reproduction. Moreover, a cartridge forthe two-sided disk and a cartridge for the one-sided disk can both beused in one disk apparatus, which improves the operability of the diskapparatus.

Example 4

With reference to FIGS. 14 through 17B, a cartridge adaptor and acartridge to be accommodated in the cartridge adaptor in a fourthexample according to the present invention will be described. Elementsidentical with those in the first and the second examples bear identicalreference numerals therewith, and explanation thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 14 is an isometric view of a cartridge adaptor 120 and a secondcartridge 93 to be accommodated in the cartridge adaptor 120. FIG. 15 isa partially cut top view of the cartridge adaptor 120 in the state ofaccommodating the second cartridge 93. FIGS. 16A and 16B are side viewsof the cartridge 93 accommodated in the cartridge adaptor 120.

First, a cartridge adaptor in the fourth example will be described.

The cartridge adaptor 120 has the same external profile as the externalprofile of a first cartridge (not shown) so as to be mountable in a diskapparatus designed to receive the first cartridge, which is larger thanthe second cartridge 93. As is shown in FIG. 14, the cartridge adaptor120 includes a housing 91 having a receptacle portion 92. The receptacleportion 92 has an insertion opening 92a at a top face for easilyinserting the second cartridge 93 and a recess 92b for accommodating thesecond cartridge 93. The receptacle portion 92 also has an opening 94 ata top of the recess 92b. The opening 94 has the same profile as theprofile of the first cartridge, and a disk driving mechanism and thelike of a driving device of the disk apparatus can be inserted throughthe opening 94.

As is shown in FIG. 15, the receptacle portion 92 includes a shutteropener 101 (second opener) and an opener 105 (first opener) at a leadingpart thereof. The shutter opener 101 and the opener 105 act together asshutter opening means. The shutter opener 101 includes a projection 96projecting into the recess 92b and a movable section 100. The projection96 engages a shutter recess 95 of the second cartridge 93 when thesecond cartridge 93 is accommodated in the cartridge adaptor 120. Theopener 105 includes a driving section 98 and an opener recess 103. Thedriving section 98 has a recess 99, the length of which is substantiallythe same as the sum of the difference between the distance of movementof a shutter of the first cartridge and a distance of movement of theshutter 97 of the second cartridge 93 and the width of the movablesection 100. The opener recess 103 is located at a correspondingposition to a shutter recess of the first cartridge. The opener 105 isbiased in the direction of arrow D by a spring 104. When the shutter 97of the second cartridge 93 is closed, the movable section 100 contactsan end 99a of the recess 99 of the driving section 98. Thus, the shutteropener 101 is secured at the position shown in FIG. 15.

The housing 91 further includes a lid 106 for opening and closing theinsertion opening 92a. The lid 106 is pivotable about a support 107, andincludes a locking section 108 (FIG. 14) and a driving section 109. In arear part of the receptacle portion 92, a locking member 111 having aslidable section 111a is provided. When the lid 106 is closed, thelocking section 108 engages the locking member 111 through the slidablesection 111a which is biased by a spring 110 in the direction ofengaging the locking section 108. In this manner, the lid 106 issecured.

In a side part of the receptacle portion 92, a conveying member presser112 for conveying the opening and closing movement of the lid 106 to theconveying members 16 and 16' is slidably provided and is biased in thedirection of arrow E. As is best shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, theconveying member presser 112 includes a pressing section 113 for movingthe conveying members 16 and 16' toward and away from the recess 92b inaccordance with the opening and closing movement of the lid 106 and asupporting section 114. The supporting section 114 has a recessed end114a, which is engageable with the driving section 109 of the lid 106.As is best shown in FIG. 15, the pressing section 113 has holes 116through which the insertion sections 22 and 22' can be inserted. Thereceptacle portion 92 includes a projection 119 (FIG. 14) engageablewith one of the identification holes 32 of the second cartridge 93described later.

As is illustrated in FIG. 14, the second cartridge 93 includes a slider117 at a leading part thereof. The slider 117 is connected to theshutter 97 at an end through a screw and engages a spring 118 at theother end. The slider 117 has the shutter recess 95 engageable with ashutter opening arm (not shown).

In a rear part of the second cartridge 93, identification holes 32 areformed. In this example, the identification hole 32a is open and anidentification hole 32b is closed on the A side. The identification hole32 is open on the B side. The disk apparatus recognizes which is the Aside and which is the B side by such a state of identification holes 32.Except for the above-described points, the second cartridge 93 hassubstantially the same structure as the second cartridge 3 in the firstexample.

With reference to FIGS. 16A, 16B, 17A, and 17B, operation of the secondcartridge 93 and the cartridge adaptor 120 will be described.

FIGS. 17A and 17B are partial top views of the cartridge adaptor 120 inthe state of accommodating the second cartridge 93.

When the locking member 111 in the cartridge adaptor 120 is slid by theslidable section 111a against the force of the spring 110, the lockingsection 108 of the lid 106 is released from the locking member 111,thereby moving to the position shown in FIG. 16 A by the biasing forceof a spring 115 engaged with the supporting section 114. In this way,the recess 92b is exposed. By movement of the supporting section 114engaged with the lid 106, the pressing section 113 moves to the positionshown in FIGS. 16A and 17A, thereby pressing the conveying members 16and 16' away from the recess 92b and thus releasing the insertionsections 22 and 22' from the recess 92b. When the second cartridge 93 isinserted into the cartridge adaptor 120 with the A side of the secondcartridge 93 at the top, the projection 119 (FIG. 14) in the receptacleportion 92 is inserted into the identification hole 32a. Also, theprojection 96 of the shutter opener 101 engages the shutter recess 95 ofthe second cartridge 93. In this manner, the second cartridge 93 isaccommodated in the cartridge adaptor 120. When the lid 106 is closedagainst the biasing force of the spring 115, the pressing section 113moves to the position shown in FIGS. 16B and 17B, thereby inserting theinsertion sections 22 and 22' of the conveying members 16 and 16' intothe transmission apertures 21 and 21'.

Operation of the conveying members 16 and 16' are performed in the samemanner as described in the first and the second examples.

When the cartridge adaptor 120 is inserted into the disk apparatus, atip of the shutter opener (not shown) engages the opener recess 103,thereby moving the opener 105 in the opposite direction to the arrow D.After the opener 105 moves by the distance corresponding to thedifference between the distance of movement of the shutter of the firstcartridge and the distance of movement of the shutter 97 of the secondcartridge 93, an end 99b of the driving section 98 contacts the movablesection 100, thereby moving the shutter opener 101. Then, the shutter 97of the second cartridge 93 is opened.

In the case when the second cartridge 93 is inserted into the cartridgeadaptor 120 with the B side of the second cartridge 93 being at the top,the projection 119 contacts the top surface of the second cartridge 93where no identification hole is formed. Accordingly, the secondcartridge 93 cannot be mounted.

In the fourth example, the shutter opening means includes the opener 105which is movable by the distance of movement of the shutter of the firstcartridge and the shutter opener 101 which is movable by the distance ofmovement of the shutter 97 of the second cartridge 93. Due to such astructure, after the opener 105 moves by the difference between thedistance of movement of the shutter of the first cartridge and thedistance of movement of the shutter 97 of the second cartridge 93, theshutter opener 105 contacts the opener 101. Accordingly, even if asecond cartridge which has no shutter opener or claw as is mentioned inthe first example is used, or even if the distance of movement of theshutter of the second cartridge is different from the distance ofmovement of the shutter of the first cartridge, the shutter of thesecond cartridge can be opened and closed by the shutter opening andclosing mechanism of the disk apparatus. Thus, such a shutter openingand closing system can be widely used.

The identification hole 32 also acts as a recess for restricting theinsertion direction of the second cartridge 93 by the engagement thereofwith the projection 119. Accordingly, the insertion direction of thesecond cartridge 93 can be performed with a simpler structure than inthe first example.

The insertion opening 92a is large, and the recess 92b is shallow. Sucha profile improves production precision. Since all the side surfaces ofthe cartridge adaptor 120 have substantially the same thickness of thatof the first cartridge, the cartridge adaptor 120 is highly strong. Theinsertion sections 22 and 22' can be released from the recess 92b inassociation with the opening of the lid 106 to mount or dismount thesecond cartridge 93. No extra operation is necessary to release theinsertion sections 22 and 22' from the recess 92b.

In the case where a second cartridge for a one-sided disk having thepositioning holes 27 only on the A side is used, projections engageablewith the positioning holes 27 may be provided in the recess 92b insteadof the projection 119. The insertion direction of the second cartridgecan properly be restricted with such an alternative structure.

Various other modifications will be apparent to and can be readily madeby those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spiritof this invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of theclaims appended hereto be limited to the description as set forthherein, but rather that the claims be broadly construed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A combination of a cartridge adaptor mountable ina disk apparatus designed to perform at least one of data reproductionand data recording from and in a disk accommodated in a first cartridgeprovided with an identifier for providing information indicating one ofa characteristic of the first cartridge and a characteristic of the diskaccommodated in the first cartridge, and a second cartridge to beaccommodated in the cartridge adaptor, wherein:the cartridge adaptorincludes a housing for accommodating the second cartridge, and thehousing has an external profile substantially identical with theexternal profile of the first cartridge, an opening for insertiontherethrough of at least a head for said at least one of recording andreproducing and a disk driving mechanism of the disk apparatus, and anidentification detection section located at a position corresponding tothe identifier of the first cartridge; and the second cartridge issmaller in external profile than the first cartridge, and includes:anopening for insertion therethrough of at least the head and the diskdriving mechanism, an identifier of the second cartridge for providinginformation indicating a characteristic of the second cartridge, theidentifier of the second cartridge including an identification hole andindicating the information based on whether the identification hole isopened or closed, and identification information conveying means forconveying the information provided by the identifier of the secondcartridge to the identification detection section of the cartridgeadaptor, the identification information conveying means being configuredto convey the information provided by the identifier along a directionparallel to or within a plane containing said disk accommodated in thesecond cartridge.
 2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein:theidentification information conveying means includes a transmissionaperture provided in a side surface of the second cartridge when theidentification hole is opened; the identification detection sectionincludes a detection hole provided at a corresponding position to theidentifier of the first cartridge, a movable member movable to a firstposition in the transmission aperture when the identification hole isopen and held in a second position displaced from the first positionwhen the identification hole is closed, and an elastic member forbiasing the movable member toward the first position; and when theidentification hole is open, the movable member moves to the firstposition by a biasing force of the elastic member, thereby opening thedetection hole; and when the identification hole is closed, the movablemember moves to the second position against the biasing force of theelastic member, thereby closing the detection hole.
 3. A combinationaccording to claim 2, wherein the housing includes an insertion openingin a receptacle portion thereof for insertion therethrough of the secondcartridge, and a lid connected to the receptacle portion for closing theinsertion opening; and the lid includes the detection hole, the movablemember and the elastic member.
 4. A combination according to claim 2,wherein the housing includes a receptacle portion having top and bottomsides, an insertion opening in the receptacle portion at one of the topand bottom sides, a lid pivotably movable relative to the receptacleportion to open, and moving means for moving the movable member inassociation with the movement of the lid.
 5. A combination according toclaim 1, wherein the second cartridge comprises erroneous deletionprohibiting means having an end surface, a second identification hole,and a transmission aperture provided on a side surface to be opened andclosed by the end surface of the erroneous deletion prohibiting meansbased on whether the second identification hole is opened or closed. 6.A combination according to claim 1, wherein the second cartridgeincludes erroneous deletion prohibiting means, and the cartridge adaptorincludes an opening along which the erroneous deletion prohibiting meansis movable.